Oaxaca is also known to be one of the cultural hearts of México,there are hundred of places that you can visit. If you need more information about any other place that we are not displaying in this list, please contact us, we will provide it to you at the moment (ithakatrips@hotmail.com/ Facebook: Ithaka Trips).
The following list covers a serie outstanding cultural activities and places you can visit, just some ideas...
ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
This map traces all the attractions around Oaxaca city, including the archeological sites, if you need a more precise direction, use the map at the bottom of this information.
Monte Albán
It is believed that Monte Alban was actually named in the 16th century after the Spanish landowner's surname "Montalvan". The previous names for the city were the Mixtec name "Sahandevul" which means "At the Foot of the Sky", and another variation which is derived from the older Zapotecan language, "Danibaan" or Sacred Mountain". What is known about the history of the region is that 4000 years ago, a village-dwelling people of unknown origin (believed by many to have been Olmec colonies) moved into the Oaxaca valleys. Then, around 500 BC (1500 years later) a new people (the Zapotecans) moved into the region. One of these groups then began the monumental task of leveling the top of a 1,600 meter high mountain that intersects and divides three valley, and built Monte Alban with a maze of subterranean passage ways, rooms, drainage and water storage systems. It is located about 10km, 6miles, away from the city.
Mitla
Mitla was the second most important ceremonial center after Monte Alban. The name Mitla or Mictlan is of Nahuatl origin and means "Place of the Dead" or "Inframundo". Mitla was inhabited in the Classic Period (100-650 DC). The most characteristic architecture in Mitla is the group of the columns. Mitla contains thousands of polished stones, which are cut to fit without mortar.It is located 46 km from the City of Oaxaca.
Monte Albán and Mitla are the most popular archeological sites in the zone. Although they represent milenary and great cultures, there are some other archeological sites that do not receive as much attention as Mitla or Monte Albán. These ruins are definitively worth seeing:
Yagul
Evidence suggests that Yagul was settled in the beginning of the Monte Alban 1 Period (500 AD). It flourished as an urban center after Monte Alban was abandoned. It was settled by Zapotecs, who still populate much of the Tlacolula Valley.This important prehispanic center is located upon a big mountain that serve as a fortress, Yagul also contains the largest ballcourt in the Oaxaca Valley, and the second largest in all of Mesoamerica.
Dainzú
Is an archaeological site located in the eastern side of the valles centrales de oaxaca, about 20 km south-east of the city of Oaxaca. It is an ancient village near to and contemporary with Monte Alban and Mitla, with an earlier development. The architectural style of this site is important due to the unique structure characteristics that distinguish it from others in the Valley of Oaxaca; these reflect a high artistic quality.
Lambityeco
Evidence suggests that Lambityeco was first occupied about 600 B.C. Its zenith was being between 700 A.D. and 750 A.D. which coincides with the abandonment of Monte Alban. Lambityeco was considered to have important in the Zapotec trading system because of its production and trade in sea salt. The houses and palaces that have been discovered, make up a small part of the whole city and archaeologists are currently exploring other parts of Lambityeco further away from the road. No one knows how many more structures and salt mounds might actually be buried under the nearby town of Tlacolula.
San José El MogoteEl Mogote is considered one of the more important Mesoamerican ruins of the Valley of Etla in Oaxaca, specially because its energetic fields.Located 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Oaxaca City. The travel time from Oaxaca City is about 30 minutes.
MUSEUMS
In this map you will find the most interesting places to visit in Oaxaca City
MACO
People suggests it once belonged to the conquistador Hernan Cortez, Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca.
The museum is also centre of diverse cultural activities: conferences and round tables, concerts, book presentations, video movie festivals, and children’s workshops on painting, engraving, and modelling.
It is located three blocks north of the central plaza (Zócalo) at 202 Alcala Street.
Museo of Oaxacan Cultures:
The Cultures of Oaxaca Museum is situated in the Santo Domingo de Guzman Ex Convent, which is one of the most important historical monuments for its architecture and history. Its exhibit rooms offer an archaeological, historical, and ethnographical panorama of Oaxacan cultures. The archaeology rooms contain artefact collections found in diverse explorations made by the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
The history and ethnography rooms include political, religious, and military aspects of various Oaxacan cultures. The museaum is located right next to the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
Rufino Tamayo Museum
The artist Rufino Tamayo gathered his collection for twenty years. Wishing to preserve and share it, he founded this important museum. Rufino Tamayo, who frequently used these rooms to display his pictorial works, chose the colour scheme for all five exhibit rooms.It is located on No. 503 Morelos Avenue.
Monte Albán Museum
The Museum of Monte Albán is composed of two permanent exhibit rooms, whose museology offers visitors an overview of history and development of the archaeological zone. Notable among them is Zapotec ceramic and sculpture collection. Other things to be seen are its engraved stones and inscriptions, originals and reproductions, such as tablets from the conquest, and dancer’s inscriptions. It also offers sketches, drawings, and photographs of the zone’s restoration, as well as a representation of a common burial ground and a maquette of the archaeological zone.It is located next to Monte Albán which is 6 miles, 10 kilometres, away from Oaxaca City
Frisell Museum
The Museum contains several rooms, which, through exhibitions of Pre-Hispanic pieces, offer a general view of Zapotec and Mixteca art evolution. The objects are varied and most of them originally from the Valley region in Oaxaca. It is locatedon the corner of Benito Juárez Street with Morelos Avenue practically in front of the Central Plaza, in San Pablo villa de Mitla, near Mitla itself, which is 27 miles (44 kilometres) away from Oaxaca city.
Museum of the Oaxacan Paintors (Múseo de los pintores oaxaqueños) and Fabrics Museum (Múseo Textil):
Both are dedicated both to show the local painting and fashion that makes Oaxacan art so distinctive world wide. They also show to contemporary and new artists exhibitions.The Paintors Museaum is Independencia Street 107. Right in front of the Alameda. The fabrics museaum is located on Hidalgo Street 917. A few blocks away from the zocalo.
CHURCHES:
Of course there are many more churches, each one with its particular and amazing stories,this list, however, gives some of the most interesting ones in Oaxaca :
Virgen de la Soledad: The virgin of solitude is the main virgin in Oaxaca
Santo Domingo de Guzmán: This is,no doubt, the most popular and beautiful church in Oaxaca, its history and barroque decoration makes it a very special temple.
Sangre de Cristo: A very special and small church located in the andador Santo Domingo-Zocalo circuit.
Cathedral: The cathedral, as the name itself explains it, is the most important and the biggest church in the state.
San Juan de Dios: The oldest church in town.
San Matías Jalatlaco & Xochimilco: Both churches are also one of the most popular, simple and beautiful ones in the city
San Andrés Huayapam & Cuilapam de Guerrero: Both churches are away from the city, but the historical background they have makes them extremely important to Oaxaca´s identity.
CULTURAL CENTERS
CaSa :: Centro de las Artes San Agustín
Cine Club el Pochote: Free art movies cinema. See the schedule: http://elpochote.blogspot.com/
CASA: Centro de las Artes San Agustín , a lovely ex fabric english-like factory located in San Agustín Etla, more or less one hour away from the city. In el CASA you can find many different artistic workshops such as working with glass, painting, design. This place combines contemporary architecture and decoration with the traditional style of the factory, next to it, you will find the only gothic church in Oaxaca. http://www.casanagustin.org/
Casa de la Ciudad, IAGO, Oaxaca Lending Library:
Libraries and cultural centers in which you can learn or relax enjoying of the wide variety of books (art, society, films, music), specially related to Oaxaca and México
Just write down the name of any of these places you are interested in and google maps will give you the exact locations
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